Mihai Nistor, the first man to stop Anthony Joshua, was comprehensively beaten in the first defeat of his professional career after giving away 73¼ pounds to 306¼-pound American heavyweight Kashaun Davis on the Zuffa Boxing card in New York.
Nistor entered the contest with a perfect record of eight knockouts from eight victories but faced an enormous physical disadvantage against Davis, who outweighed the Romanian by 73¼ pounds.
Despite hearing the final bell, Nistor was outboxed throughout as Davis controlled the action from start to finish before earning a unanimous decision by scores of 80-71, 80-71 and 79-72.
Nistor’s task became even harder after he was deducted a point in the fifth round for holding.
The defeat ended one of boxing’s most unusual unbeaten records.
Anthony Joshua Victory
Long before Anthony Joshua became Olympic champion and a two-time heavyweight world champion, Nistor handed the Briton the only stoppage defeat of his amateur career.
The Romanian stunned Joshua in 2011, a result that has followed both men throughout their careers.
After turning professional in 2019, Nistor blasted through his first eight opponents, stopping every one of them inside the distance and earning a reputation as one of Europe’s hardest-punching heavyweights.
Speaking exclusively to World Boxing News before his latest run, Nistor made no secret of his ambition to meet Joshua again.
“I’d love to box again with my former rivals,” Nistor told WBN.
“If I could box against Joshua and Usyk again, that would be my goal.
“I am confident and convinced that I will make it to the level of Joshua and Usyk.”
Giving Away 73 Pounds
Nistor’s undefeated run finally came to an end against an opponent carrying an extraordinary size advantage.
Davis tipped the scales at 306¼ pounds compared to Nistor’s 233, leaving the Romanian to concede a staggering 73¼ pounds before the opening bell.
The American made full use of that advantage, controlling the contest over all eight rounds as the judges returned scores of 80-71, 80-71 and 79-72 to extend his unbeaten record to 12-0.
For Nistor, it was a painful end to a perfect professional start and another reminder of just how unforgiving the heavyweight division can be.
The man who first stopped Anthony Joshua must now rebuild after the first defeat of his professional career, while Davis moves another step closer to heavyweight contention.
Full Zuffa 09 Results are available on WBN.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
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